Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Rob Lee Jacobs

Kevin George Hetzler

Billy Ray Jones, Jr

Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev

David Craige Strack

Gunilla Elsa Gillberg-LaForce

Ross Thomas Kaufman

Steven R Stopper

Terry K Timmons

Daniel Kenneth Schiffer

Tracy Neal Wilson

Steven Edward Knothe

A breathable film having a base layer comprising first filler particles and second filler particles dispersed within a biodegradable polymer matrix is provided. The first filler particles constitute from about 25 wt. % to about 75 wt. % of the base layer and the second filler particles constitute from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of the base layer. The ratio of the average size of the first filler particles to the average size of the second filler particles being from about 2 to about 100. The film exhibits a water vapor transmission rate of about 2,000 g/m/24 hours or more and a peak load in the machine direction of about 800 grams-force per inch or more.

Highly breathable biodegradable films

The present invention provides a process for producing a three dimensionally texturized liquid resistant laminate having a fibrous nonwoven layer and a liquid resistant layer. The process has the steps of placing the fibrous layer and the liquid resistant layer in juxtaposition to form a laminate, attaching the fibrous layer and the liquid resistant layer at a plurality of spaced-apart bond locations, heating the bonded laminate to a temperature that activates the latent shrinkability of the liquid resistant layer, and allowing the heated laminate to retract such that the liquid resistant layer shrinks and said fibrous layer forms gathers between said bond locations, thereby forming a three dimensional texture and heat annealing the laminate. The invention additionally provides a three dimensionally texturized laminate having a fibrous layer and a nonelastic liquid resistant layer. The layers of the laminate are joined at a multitude of spaced-apart bond sites, and the laminate is heat annealed, wherein the fibrous layer forms gathers between spaced-apart bond sites to provide the three dimensional texture and the laminate has a liquid resistant layer to fibrous layer length ratio between about 0.7 and about 0.95.

Bulked fabric film laminate

Process for die extrusion of melted polymers that reduces die lip buildup and its deleterious effects. Direct extrusion of mixed polymer pellets and filler concentrate pellets in one embodiment avoids a precompounding step and reduces the tendency of polymer and filler particles to adhere to the exit portion of the die. In other embodiments a reduced die lip radius and lower melt processing temperatures further enhance the benefits obtained. For co-extruded muitilayer film embodiments elimination of fillers and antiblock additives in skin layers add to the levels of die lip buildup reduction obtained. Hours of continuous operation without excessive die lip buildup in one arrangement have been increased from a level of 4 to 6 hours, for example, to in excess of 20 hours. Reduced product defect levels have also been attained.

Reduced die lip buildup extrusion of polymer compositions

Breathable barriers, comprising a thermoplastic polymer and at least 30% by weight filler, are stretched in one direction in multiple discrete steps wherein the strain rate of each discrete stretching step is less than about 100,000%/minute and wherein the line speed of the last stretching step is in excess of 500 feet per minute. The resulting films may be stretched, as a result of the cumulative discrete stretching operations, from about 2 to 7 times its original length in order to create a breathable barrier having a WVTR in excess of 800 g/m,/day and a hydrohead of at least 60 cm.

Methods of making stretched filled microporous films

The present invention relates to thin, elastomeric films made from low crystallinity propylene copolymers having a crystallinity of less than about 30%. The elastomeric films of the present invention have improved strength in the cross machine direction. The films may be incorporated into laminate materials used in the outer coverings of diapers, training pants, incontinence products and the like.

Stretched-thinned films comprising low crystallinity polymers and

The present invention relates to a microporous film including a flexible polyolefin, more particularly, a propylene-based polymer with atactic polypropylene units. The present invention is also directed to a method of making the microporous film.

Oriented polymeric microporous films with flexible polyolefins

Process for making a bulked fabric laminate

A method of producing a fabric comprising producing fine denier fibers, using either meltblown or spunbond processes, or a combination of the two, followed by crimping, spotbonding using differential bond roll temperatures, and neck-stretching. Fiber having less than or equal to about 1.5 denier is preferred. The bond temperature differential is about 10.degree.-50.degree. F. The mat produced has the unexpected result of improved strength, conformability and reduced stiffness.

Method of forming a fine fiber barrier fabric with improved drape and

A pull-activated container adapted to hold a fluid, volatile solid, or absorbent for a fluid wherein at least a portion of the container includes a laminate which, in turn, includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a grasping means. The first layer is a fibrous sheet, the second layer is a film having a first side and a second side, and the third layer is a porous fibrous sheet. The third layer is inside the container. The first layer is bonded to the first side of the second layer and has a first bonding strength and the third layer is bonded to the second side of the second layer and has a second bonding strength. For example, the first bonding strength may be greater than the second bonding strength to an extent sufficient to permit selectively removing the first and second layers from the third layer without tearing the third layer. The grasping means is affixed to the first layer and has a third bonding strength which is greater than the second bonding strength. If desired, a portion of the first layer may be defined by lines of weakness sufficient to aid in removing such portion at least partially from the third layer. Desirably, the grasping means will be attached to the portion of the first layer which is defined by lines of weakness.

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Woodstock, GA, United States of America

Rob Lee Jacobs